The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Track & Field Signs Three For 2011 Slate
6/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
June 29, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. --- UAB track and field interim head coach Kurt Thomas announced the addition of three student-athletes to the 2010 signing class Tuesday.
Emily Trotter (Somerville, Ala./Brewer HS), Taylor Simpson (Calhoun, Ga./Gordon Central HS) and Kelli Smith (Chattanooga, Tenn./Brainerd HS) have each signed National Letters of Intent to join the Blazer track and field squad. Trotter will also compete for the cross country team.
"We are extremely excited to add these three young women to our Blazer family," Thomas said. "We work hard to recruit individuals that we believe will thrive both as students and athletes, and provide great character to our team. We feel that we've done that with the addition of these three ladies."
Trotter is a four-year state qualifier in both cross country and track. The Somerville, Ala., product notched third-place finishes in both the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter races at the 2010 Alabama state meet and was the anchor of the 4x800-meter relay team that finished runner-up.
At the 2010 sectional meet, Trotter won the 1,600-meter, placed second in the 3,200-meter and third in the 800-meter. In 10 races in the 1,600-meter in 2010, she earned seven first-place finishes. In 2009, Trotter placed seventh at the cross country state championship and finished second in the 1,600-meter and fourth in the 3,200-meter at the state track and field meet.
"Emily has shown a lot of potential, and I'm excited about how she will develop into a C-USA cross country runner," UAB head cross country coach Blake Boldon said. "Emily made great strides in her last year in high school, and it's only a glimpse of what's ahead of her."
Simpson will join two-time C-USA champion Nora Mehl in the high jump next year. The Calhoun, Ga., native recorded the top high jump mark (5-6) in Georgia's Class 2A to capture the Region 7-AA title. She graduated in the top seven percent of her class and was a member of the National Honor Society.
"We are happy to add Taylor to the jumps group," Thomas said. "Taylor did very well in high school, but we still see great potential in her and look forward to her growing as an athlete. She had a good senior year and will now get a chance to continue that success here at UAB."
Smith will add depth for UAB in the long jump, triple jump and high jump events. She earned a second-place finish in the long jump at the 2010 Tennessee Class A-AA state meet with a leap of 19-0. She also placed third in the triple jump. She was named one of the Best of Prep and selected to the 2010 All-City Track & Field Team by the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Smith was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated fourth in her class at Brainerd High School.
"Kelli had a tremendous senior season," Thomas said. "Kelli adds versatility since she has been successful in all three jump disciplines. She is determined and focused, which are great attributes for success."
